UEFA Champions League Preview – Real Madrid take on Lyon

October 17, 2011

Voted by FIFA as the most successful football club of the 20th Century, Real Madrid is certainly always a favorite against any opponent. With a record 9 UEFA Champions League titles to add color to a very full trophy case, Real Madrid look to be on track for their 10th Champions League trophy. Real Madrid has dominated the group stages, notching wins against fellow Group D contenders Dinamo Zagreb (1-0) and Ajax Amsterdam (3-0). When Matchday 3 of the 2012 UEFA Champions League group stages resumes on October 18, 2011, Real Madrid will look to add French Ligue 1 giants Olympique Lyonnais to the list of casualties.

Real Madrid will be hosting Lyon at the Santiago de Bernabeu in Madrid, where the Madristas have been hard to beat. But if there’s anyone, who can do it from all of the Group D contenders, then perhaps Lyon has the best shot. Lyon was responsible for upsetting Real Madrid in the 2009-2010 Champions League season, knocking them out in the first phase of the knockout round. However, Real Madrid has since avenged that loss last season by thrashing Lyon 4-1 on aggregate also on the round of 16, including a defining 3-0 win at the Bernabeu during the second leg of their battle.

Real Madrid are currently undefeated in Group D. Moreover, they have not conceded a goal to any Champions League opponent yet. Lyon recently won against Dinamo Zagreb 2-0, but their 1-1 draw to Ajax last month has left them sitting second in the standings. A win by Lyon could add more excitement to Group D, while a win by Real Madrid will assure them a spot in the last 16.

Possible goal scorers for the match include big names like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema for Real Madrid and Bafetimbi Gomis for Lyon.

Those two teams have already their history in H2H written, having seen that Lyon can upset Real Madrid I would back over 2.5 goals in this match, both teams to score a goal and Karim Benzema to score a goal at anytime @ around 7.50!